Rotary coupling and valve



Get. 27, 1953 p, CQLLlNS 2,656,847

ROTARY COUPLING AND VALVE Filed May 29, 1951 5B 14 66 /%%;77s/7e 2 52 L54 $92 F/G.

44 INVENTOR DON F- COLLINS QMMQ ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 27, 1953 Don(Collins, Akron,

:son United Company,

tion 'of Ohio Akron, Ohio, at corpora,-

Application May 29, 1951', steal h-6. 2282911 13 Claims. (011137412)This invention relates to a combined rotary coupling andpressure-actuated valve, for a hydraulic system, and more particularlyis concerned with a fluid coupling iorrcontinuously connecting aplurality of fluid lines'to a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure'the couplin being adapted to successiyely connect each of the fluidlines to a second source or hydraulic fluid'at higherpressure. T I 1While rotary couplings have been advanced in the prior art for providinga pressure+fluid connection between .a stationary and rotating member,known coupling's have not been readily adaptable for use where fluid attwo different pressures, one continuously andone intermittently, are tobe coupled. S uch is the requirement of the fluid coupling in a rotarypress of the type described in the co pending application Serial No.228,912, filed May 29, 1951, ii! which a plurality of hydraulic pressesare supported in a rotating frame. A constant hydraulic pressure isapplied to the presses .at alltimes. In addition, a greatlyincreasedjluid pressure is applied successively to eaclrof the pressesas they r indexed around with the rotary frame.

It is the object of this invention to provide a hydraulic coupling forsuch an application which is comparatively simple in itsdesign ioolproofin operation, rugged fluidftig-ht, compact, and easily assembled andinstalled J .Another object of this invention is the provision of afluid coupling which continuouslyconnects a plurality of fluid lines ona rotating memher to a stationary source of hydraulic fluid underpressure. V 7 Another object of this invention is toprovide a rotaryvalve which successively disconnects ach of the fluid lines on therotarymember from the hydraulic fluid source and at the same timeconnects the lines to a second hydraulic fluid source at greatlyincreased pressure. Another object of this invention is to provide arotary valve which is actuated by the increased pressure of the secondhydraulic fluid source to inonientarily cut oil" the low pressure supplyand connect the line to the high-pressure fluid supply. H

These and other objects of the invention which will become apparent asthe description proceeds are achieved by providing in combination anuid-tight housing carried by the rotating member having a substantiallycylindrical chamber therein the principal axis of which coincides withthe axis of the rotating member. A' stationary valve block is journaled,for relative re- "tat'able movement within the housing chamber and. hasconnected thereto through a sealed joint the 'hblisirfg a acupres ureand high-- pressure fluid line'. The block has a fii'iid' sagecommunicating with the low-pressu and "opening into the chamber of theous g. A plurality of fluid-discharge lines carried "by the rotatingmember open into the fluid ch ber within the housing through valveseatsc ferentially spaced around the cylind'rical wet the chamber. Thevalve block has a -cylin d bore therein in which is slidably c'a'rhaving a projecting valve portion thereof adapted to en age each 6ft Iin fluid-tight engagement by outward move or the piston in the ore. Theblock has passage communicating with the big-11:1? fluid line andopening into thebor'e back piston whereby introduction or theuh sure sumactuates the piston to i'novje the into sealed engagement witnthevalveseat. A small bore fluid passage through the valve piston permitsthe passage o'fhigh-Zp into the discharge fluidline associate Valve seatengaged with the Valve. 3pm disengages thevalvevfrom the seat when thehi' -h ressure fiuidiscut ir. F n V a For a better understanding pr theintention, reference Should be had to the accb'lhpahyifig drawings,wherein; p p Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional coupling and showing detailsture; and h 4 Fig 2 is a fragmentary, cross sectionalgvlw sho ingthevalve in closed pos1tion foriiitrodueling high-pressure fluid into thedischarge fl id i H With specific reference t the torrn ol'the invention illustrated in the rawings, thenuinera-l Ill indicates generally therotary coupling, which is ihounted by means of bolts I2 to .the endof. ahollow shaft 14. The hollow shi'ft It is Jourla n a irarne Viewpf. theibaiy of the valve strucsleeve bearing! generally at [6.

naled by means of includes a substantially bell-shaped housing memberHE. A cover 20 bolted to the housing member l8 by means of bolts 22completes the housing assembly and provides a substantially cylindricalchamber 24 therein. A gasket 26 insures a pressure-sealed joint betweenthe cover 20 and the housing member I8. Located Within the chamber 24 isthe stationary valve block 28 having a pair of integrally formedtrunnions 30 and 32 journaled in the cover 20 and housing member l8respectively. Rotary seals between the trunnions and the housing areeffected by annular packingunits 34 which are held in position by meansof sealing caps 36, bolted to the housing by means of bolts 38.

Fluid under pressure is admitted to the chamber 24 by means of a fluidpassage 40 through the trunnion 38, the passage communicating with anhydraulic line 42 from a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure ofpreferably 2,000

' lbs. per square inch. Any suitable coupling such as a pipe threadconnection can be used to connect the line 42 to the passage 40.

Discharge of the hydraulic fluid under pressure to the rotary assemblyof the associated press is effected preferably by means of a pluralityof passages M which are in axial alignment with similar passages it: inthe hollow shaft i i. A gasket 158 between the housing of the rotarycoupling and the end of the shaft i l insures a sealed joint between thetwo members. The passages M communicate with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced openings, indicated at 53, which are radiallydirected through the wall of the housing member I3 into the chamber 24.Each of the openings 53 has threadably secured therein a hardened steelplug 52. A passage a in each of the plugs connects the chamber 2 2 withan annular groove as around the plug opposite the opening of the passage44 whereby fluid under pressure in the chamber 24 is discharged to eachof the passages 46 in the hollow shaft l6. 0- ring seals 58 and as sealthe plugs to the housing on either side of the annular grooves 58 toprevent leakage.

In order to introduce hydraulic fluid at greatly increased pressuresuccessively to each of the passages A5, a special valve arrangement isprovided and includes a piston '62 slidably supported within a bore 63formed in the block 28. The

bore 63 is radially directed and so positioned that it passes throughaxial alignment with the holes 58 as the housing is rotated relative tothe block. The outer face of the piston 62 has a valve body 64projecting therefrom, the valve body 64 having a beveled edge 65 adaptedto engage the mating valve seats 68 in each of the plugs 52. Thus, itwill be appreciated that, when the bore 63 is in axial alignment withone of the holes 58, outward movement of the piston 62 will cause thevalve body 64 to engage the valve seat 58 to cut off the flow of fluidfrom the chamber 2i into the passage 54.

To efiect movement of the piston 62 against the pressure of the fluidwithin the chamber 24, fluid under a high pressure of approximately6,000 lbs. per square inch is introduced into the bore 83 adjacent theback side of the piston 62 by the provision of a fluid passage whichcommunicates with the high-pressure hydraulic line l2. Thus, when fluidunder high pressure is introduced through the passage 13, the piston 62is forced outwardly so as to bring the valve body 66 into engagementwith the particular valve seat in alignment therewith. An nnu- 4 larseal 13 and retainer It provide a pressure seal between the piston andwall of the bore.

To look the housing in position as each successive plug 52 andassociated valve seat G8 is indexed around by any suitable means (notshown) into axial alignment with the piston and valve body assembly, aspring-actuated lock pin l5 is provided which engages a notch it in thehousing member 18. A solenoid H, mounted on the frame 16, slidablysupports the lock pin and serves to disengage the pin when energized.

To secure the valve body 28 against rotation and to insure properalignment of the valve 64 with the valve seats 68, a special bracket 19is provided which is secured at one end to the frame l6 and at the othersupports a collar preferably of a rubber torsion type which is in turnsecured by means of screws 8! to the end of the trunnion 30. Ihe rubbertorsion type collar 83 permits slight rotation of the valve body so thatany slight misalignment with the valve seats can be adjusted for by thewedging action of the beveled surfaces 66.

Integrally formed on the back side of the piston 62 is a stem Itextending through a hole in the bottom of the bore 63 into a cylindricalspace 82 in the block 28. A collar 8 is pinned or otherwise secured tothe end of the stem '58 and engages a compression spring 85concentrically located with respect to the stem 18. Spring 85 reactsagainst the action of the fluid pressure on the piston 62 and serves towithdraw the valve body from the valve seat when the fluid pressure onthe piston 62 is released. Plug 88 is threadably engaged in the end ofthe block 28 to close off the space 82. In addition, an o-ring seal 90is provided to prevent any possible leakage of the high-pressurehydraulic fluid into the chamber 24.

A small bore fluid passage 92 extends through the valve body 64, piston62, and up into the stem is and opens into the fluid space within thebore 63. The passage 92 is in axial alignment with the opening of thepassages so that when the valve body is seated, the high-pressure fluidfrom the line 12 enters the associated discharge fluid passage 46.

A solenoid-operated valve, indicated generally at 94, controls the flowof hydraulic fluid in the high-pressure line 12. The valve 34 is soarranged that it is closed when the solenoid of the valve is energized.Thus, in operation, the solenoid l1 and the solenoid valve E5 1 aresimultaneously energized during the time the rotary assembly is indexedto the next position. The current to the two solenoids is then cut off,the locking pin 15 engages with the housing to lock it in position, andsimultaneously high-pressure fluid from the line 12 enters throughpassage H1 and forces the valve body 64 into engagement with the valveseat 68.

In addition, a second solenoid valve 96 connects the high pressure lineE2 to the low pressure line 52. The solenoid valve 96 functions torelieve the high pressure in back of the piston 62 when the solenoidvalve 9:; is shut off, thereby permitting the valve 64 to disengage withthe valve seat 68 under the action of spring 86.

From the above description, it will be appreciated that the objects ofthe invention have been achieved by the provision of a rotary couplingwhich connects a plurality of hydraulic lines carried by a rotary memberto a fixed source of hydraulic fluid under pressure. By a special valvearrangement, each of the discharge fluid lines are successivelyconnected to a separate Me-6M2 muni s eeeee m sk e P eter? e e be n. llstrefie ns; v. v i fiiughw Y seats w t the T1 d I own egnbp e iee eeueeieie el e i n l e .lm gliez eeajs ither hi gh-pli'efispfe valve 1- A.eqmbmed n t-em e upline t esee tiemeuel 31 e eeiehia e r beeiv b e i' by15 cqqgeqing plurality 'd se alels '99 e 9i B an bein eqe eq f9 9f the90119 29 1 15? e Hers e e 1.1 4141" v iotatable means to a source offluid under ggs izhe. equa ng be n mane; 29 .enseee iY eqllnee eeeh 'e te flu i ee t9 eee s $2 359 0f 11 m t hi he pre ure we gqmhixg e1 eludine fluid-ti ht lleiti 9&2 iesl tetz ble means tetiqnery b q ls 1' rela er tata m em nt with? s M Q. lowr 'r re nd h e -pe e u e 41 1. lineneefied t the l k S le bl e he? e flui assa e mmuniee ine w th the lq -ner 2 field line n p n n me the peee 91 e entie y 'lenaeeq in T he n ue.efoi nd fihe a i of e enet the musin e we t the week ene e eeiel lmz liy e luisl hues eezmeet ne t 3 ne f eid n u a fi ef' jfuiig eeh ve1? thva e eats. a pieeena .th v lv bloe een bf the i e' ae's a pietbnl h al eb ek having a bor there n sl dehly ar yin t e pi t n. gag/111g; bQre phe rei j slid gl rryili p1 8 e va e b dy eerri si by the 11 91 adapte d avalve body e r t9 e et, ineeeh of he valve e ets a the mo .ged 1: ea; inc bf into neeieien iq bl e}; he 11g 5 lime eeee 3 item ee tienl e d lesg a eemmun eetine with th h eh-Imewr flu in eemmuni etih h @he hi h endepen n new th b e 12a hereby the hieh r eeu e fluid ten t mov he ye v mesee g. with the valve sea s, sa d n eten 11d .s ex s a fluid ee extendin th eemmun ee in Wi hthe hi h pr ,s.

ek 9f the Pi t ex s pe in intethe h e i b he eb he h h-pre e Win: thealve bie en nd e ve b lzexizl Quit; assa e xten ethe h ,QQE mHPi efiL gWi h he hi -n r uzd pee' v s .s e6 912151 9 1 1 1? a ve eeks w th he 1.2 5 nee I s mm th va ve eete;

f A etar ee n in an valve eembi ekieza 9 tioning the housing ,apd and110mm V V seats with Q13 ty pg ggsgyibed in lu'digg a, rotary h in hekei the t an s I alv s ts w th th 11 s knee e. al e eat infldexi me nser successively align each of "she valvg r v phe hi nrp-ressur valveleggy; valv means sa ng fl id- 5111 ei bet'ent es iy 'e w associa es;wit he ewe fiel line eha be ehere n; e e etieherybl 'eek .en inermntiine he 219W 0 i h we fl 50 9 reel P w bleek enql 'eHrR Ld i memevalv beine a 1 3: eeid preseniene si P lel n t wugh t e glee blqekeu 9?fi e be e ne 191 P tln he meek hil t mbe 9 re ete h hei e o he meek e 3pbsitibn, said block having a fluid pg s sggg 7,5 pg M a 1 New securedto the block and the valve seats 7 fluid-tight chamber therein, portmeans secured to the ment between cutting off the high-pressure fluidfrom the bore during the interval the housing indexes from one valveseat position to the next.

5. A rotary coupling and valve combination of the type describedincluding a rotary housing having a fluid-tight substantiallycylindrical chamber therein, a stationary block, trunnions journaled inthe housing, said trunnions extending through the walls of the housingand supporting the block within the chamber for relative rotationalmovement between the block and housing, the block having a radiallyextending bore, a piston slidably carried within the bore, a valve bodyprojecting outwardly from the face of the piston, and a plurality ofvalve seats spaced circumferentially around the chamber at equalintervals and secured to the housing and positioned to receive the valvebody as the housing is rotated to bring successively in alignment withthe valve body, each of the valve seats having a fluid discharge passageopening into the chamber through the center of the valve seat, one ofthe trunnions having a low-pressure fluid intake passage therethroughopening into the chamber, one of the trunnions having a high-pressurefluid intake passage therethrough opening into the bore behind thepiston, said fluid passages connecting to external sources of low andhigh pressure fluid respectively, the piston and valve body having afluid passage extending therethrough, said passage being adapted toconnect with the discharge passage opening in the valve seats.

6. A rotary coupling and valve combination of the type describedincluding a housing having a fluid-tight chamber therein, a block,trunnions secured to the block and journaled in the housing, saidtrunnions extending through the walls of the housing and supporting theblock within the chamber for relative rotational movement between theblock and housing, the block having a radially extending bore, a pistonslidably carried within the bore, a valve body projecting outwardly fromthe face of the piston, and a plurality of valve seats spacedcircumferentially around the chamber at equal intervals and secured tothe housing and positioned to receive the valve body as the housing isrotated to bring the valve seats successively in alignment with thevalve body, each of the valve seats having a fluid discharge passageopening into the chamber through the center of the valve seat, one ofthe trunnions having a low-pressure fluid intake passage therethroughopening into the chamber, one of the trunnions having a high-pressurefluid intake passage therethrough opening into the bore behind thepiston, said fluid passages connecting to external sources of low andhigh pressure fluid respectively, the piston and valve body having afluid passage extending therethrough,

said passage being adapted to connect with the discharge passage openingin the valve seats.

7. A rotary coupling and valve combination of the type describedincluding a housing having a a block, pivotal supblock and journaled inthe housing, said means extending through the walls of the housing andsupporting the block: within the chamber for relative rotational movetheblock and housing, the block having a bore, a piston slidably carriedwithin the bore, a valve body projecting outwardly from the face of thepiston, and a plurality of valve seats spaced circumferentially aroundthe chamber and secured to the housing and positioned to receive thevalve body as the housing is rotated to bring the valve seatssuccessively in alignment with the valve body, each of the valve seatshaving a fluid discharge passage opening into the chamber through thecenter or the valve seat, said pivotal support means having alow-pressure fluid intake passage therethrough opening into the chamberand having a high-pressure fluid intake passage therethrough openinginto the bore behind the piston, said fluid passages connecting toexternal sources of low and high pressure fluid respectively, the pistonand valve body having a fluid passage extending therethrough, saidpassage being adapted to connect with the discharge passage opening inthe valve seats.

8. A rotary coupling and valve combination including a stationary means,a rotary housing journaling said means, the housing having a fluid-tightsubstantially cylindrical chamber, the housing having a plurality ofdischarge fluid passages therein opening into said chamber atcircumferentially spaced points, said stationary means having a fluidintake passage therein opening to said chamber whereby fluid underpressure enters the chamber and is discharged through said dischargepassages, a valve seat associated with each of the discharge fluidopenings, fluid-actuated valve means associated with said stationarymeans within the chamber and adapted to successively seat in said valveseats when actuated to cut off the flow of fluid from the chamber intothe particular discharge fluid passage, said valve means having ahigh-pressure F fluid passage therein positioned to communicate with thedischarge fluid passage when the valve means is engaged with aparticular valve seat, indexing means associated with the housing forsuccessively positioning the valve means opposite each valve seat, andmeans for delivering highpressure fluid into said high pressure fluidpassage for actuating said valve means as the housing is indexed tosuccessively brin each valve seat into position for engagement with thevalve means, said high-pressure fluid passing through said fluid passageinto the associated discharge fluid passage.

9. A rotary coupling and valve combination including a stationary means,a rotary housing j ournaling said means, the housing having a fluidtightsubstantially cylindrical chamber, the housing having a plurality ofdischarge fluid passages therein opening into said chamber atcircumferentially spaced points, said stationary means having a fluidintake passage therein opening to said chamber whereby fluid underpressure enters the chamber and is discharged through said dischargepassages, a valve seat associated with each of the discharge fluidopenings, fluid-actuated valve means associated with said stationarymeans within the chamber and adapted to successively seat in said valveseats when actuated to cut off the flow of fluid from the chamber intothe particular discharge fluid passage, said valve means having ahigh-pressure fluid passage therein positioned to communicate with thedischarge fluid passage when the valve means is engaged with aparticular valve seat, and means for delivering high-pressure fluid intosaid high pressure fluid passage for actuating said valve means at thehousing is indexed to successively bring each valve seat into positionfor engagement with the valve means, said high-pressure fluid passingthrough said fluid passage into the associated discharge fluid passage.

chamber to transmit 10. A rotary coupling and valve combinationincluding a stationary means, a rotary housing journaling said means,the housing having a fluidtight substantially cylindrical chamber, thehousing having a plurality of discharge fluid passages opening into saidchamber at circumferentially spaced points, said stationary means havinga fluid intake passage therein opening to said chamber whereby fluidunder pressure enters the chamber and is discharged through saiddischarge passages, a valve seat associated with each of the dischargefluid openings, and fluid-actuated valve means associated with saidstationary means within the chamber and adapted to successively seat insaid valve seats when actuated to cut 01f the flow of fluid from thechamber into the particular discharge fluid passage, said valve meanshaving a high-pressure fluid passage therein positioned to communicatewith the discharge fluid passage when the valve means is engaged with aparticular valve seat.

11. A rotary fluid coupling and valve comprising a valve block, a rotaryhousing encompassing said valve block and forming an annular chambertherearound, said housing having a plurality of discharge passagesconnecting to said chamber, bore means in said valve block connecting tosaid fluid under pressure thereto, a valve piston slidably carried bysaid valve block, and supply means for transmitting fluid, underpressure to said piston to urge it towards said housing, said pistonhaving a bore therein for connecting a selected one of said dischargepassages to the fluid pressure applied to said piston when the fluidpressure supply means are actuated. V

12. A rotary fluid coupling and valve comprising a valve block, a rotaryhousing encompassing said valve block and forming a chamber around atleast a portion of said valve block, said housing having a plurality ofspaced discharge passages connecting to said chamber, bore meansconnectsure thereto for flow to said discharge passages, a valve-pistonslidably carried by said valve block, and supply means for transmittingfluid under pressure to said piston to urge it towards said housing,said piston having a bore therein for connecting one of said dischargepassages to said fluid pressure supply means and sealing it from saidchamber.

13. A rotary fluid coupling and valve comprising a valve block, a rotaryhousing encompassing said valve block and forming a chamber therearound,said housing having a plurality of discharge passages connecting to saidchamber, bore means connecting to said chamber to transmit fluid underpressure thereto, a valve piston slidably carried by said valve block,supply means for transmitting fluid under pressure to said piston tourge it towards said housing, said piston having a bore therein forconnecting one of said discharge passages to said fluid pressure supplymeans, and means for actuating said fluid pressuresupply means when saidrotary housing is in a predetermined position with relation to saidpiston to connect said fluid pressure supply means to one of saiddischarge passages whereby a difierent pressure can be set up thereinfrom the pressure in the remaining of said discharge passages.

DON F. COLLINS.

Name Date Matter Nov. 24, 1925 Number

